Bottle cap forming apparatus



April 25, 1961 G. E. FORD Erm.

BOTTLE CAP FORMING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'iled Jan. 23, 1958 April 25, 1961 G. E. FORD Em 2,981,161

BOTTLE CAP FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors GEOFFRY E. FORD BBERTRM G. POYNTOH orneys April 25, 1961 G. E. FORD ETAL 2,981,161

BOTTLE CAP FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lh-RTR AM G- PoYNToN IQ MLM@ Acw'a u) *1 Attorneys United rates Patent' BOTTLE CAP FORMING APPARATUS GeoErey Ewart Ford and Bertram George Poynton, Bedford, England, assignors to Fords (Finsbury) Limited, Bedford, England, a British company Filed Jan. 23, 1958, Ser. No. '719,722

Claims priority, application Great Britain lan. 24, 1957 8 Claims. (Cl. 93-1.3) l

The present invention relates to apparatus for forming crimped or pleated metal foil caps for bottles or the like, said caps having a substantially cylindrical but slightly tapering portion closed at one end and a flange projecting radially outwards from the other end thereof. e

More particularly the invention relates to apparatus for forming caps according to co-pending application No. 654,156, led April 22, 1957 by Geotfrey Ewart Ford for Bottle Caps.

To form caps of this kind it is appropriate to use a pair of opposable 4crimping tools of similar diameter and of annular form, and to arrange a plunger member to pass through the common centre of the two annuli so as to draw the material of a blank into the substantially cylindrical but slightly tapering portion which is closed at one end. The coadjacent faces of the crimping tools are complementarily ribbed and grooved and the outer surface of the plunger also may be provided with longitudinal ribs and grooves whereby as a result of the capforming operation a cap having the above-mentioned .characteristics will be produced, the ange at least being pleated or iluted. 'Ihe cap somewhat resembles a tophat, the substantially cylindrical but slightly tapering portion representing the crown and the ange representing the brim.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for forming a crimped or pleated metalfoil cap or capsule for bottles or the like and having a generally cylindrical portion slightly tapering towards one closed end and a ilange projecting radially outwards from the other, open, end thereof, from a circular disc blanked rom a strip of foil, comprising male and female tools' including former bodies which are of similar diameter and of an annular shape, between which said blank is fed, means for effecting relative movement between the said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure, means for moving a forming plunger through the'aperture of the annulus of the female body so as to form a cap of the kind referred to, means -for releasing the pressure between said former bodies, means for separating the two bodies, means for retaining the formed Patented Apr. 25, 1961 tion and the projecting flange. The projecting flange is,

' its working face, said slots and tins extending radially cap on one of the bodies and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation of the tools.

Preferably the formed cap is retained over the said plunger which is part of the male tools and is passed through the male former body into the female former body.

Preferably means are provided to change the crimping' As mentioned above, the caps or capsules have a generally cylindrical portion that tapers slightly towards one end whichis closed by a, at top portion and a flange projecting radially outwards from the other, open, end, and advantageously the cap or capsule is radiused at the transition portion between the generally cylindrical poror pleated during formation. The caps or capsules in use are placed over the cork or other stopper of a bottle or like container and the projecting ilange is folded or smoothed down upon the neck thereof. The advantage of forming the cap or capsule with a projecting ange as compared with the conventional long cylindrical form is that the new caps or capsules can be handled much more easily after formation and can be the more easily delivered from a `forming station to a capping station ofa complete forming and capping machine or, alternatively, can be readily stored in nested condition prior to use.

` The press tools may be and preferably are such as to make the crimps or pleats lie at at the radiused transition portion between the generally cylindrical portion and the projecting flange. This predisposes the crimps of pleats to lie down more easily when the cap or capsule is folded or flattened against the bottle. As a result the finished cap or capsule after sealing to the bottle is substantially improved in appearance.

In Aaccordance with a further feature of the invention, therefore, the crimp or pleat-forming ribs of the female tool do not extend in a single straight line from the outer periphery towards the centre thereof but each rib is divided into two parts, an outer part running radially towards the centre and an inner part which isislanted at an angle to the outer part, but generally in the same plane. Preferably also the inner part is shallower than the outer part and may be given a twist: the inner part acts as a plough to turn over and tlatten the formed crimp or pleat at the zone of the radiused transition portion.

Morevoer, the aperture of -the annulus of the female tool and the exterior of the male plunger may be smooth or substantially smooth. j

According to a feature of the invention the outer rib parts' are formed on a separate outer member that is securable to the body of the female tool the working face of which is formed with the said inner rib parts, the inner and outer parts being aligned Ybefore the said separate member is secured to the body.

Advantageously the outer rib parts are formed by sepa rate fins or the like housed in parallel-sided slots cut or otherwise provided inthe said separate outer member on towards the centre of the tool. The ribs on the male forming tool, which are positioned to engage between the ribs of thev female tool when the tools are mutually advanced to crimp or pleat the projecting flange of the cap or capsule, may also consist of radially-extending wedge-shaped fins of a length commensurate with the lengths of the fins forming the outer rib parts of the female tool. Between the male ribs and the male plunger, on which the part containing the maleribs slides, there is a. spring-loaded ejector ring which prei vents the crimps or pleats on the formed cap orcapsule sticking to the'n'bs on the tools.

In order that the invention may be more clearly under?A tool assemblies with theirdrive means, most of the partsv being shown in section,

Figure Z'shows a detail from Figure l` of the male ejector ring mechanism andv associate parts 'andv toa larger scale, L' i member mdplunger,A

Figure 3 shows a perspective viewV of themale former aesinet aesinet Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the female former plunger, and

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a cap of the kind that the tools according to the invention can manufacture.

In order to render the construction and operation of the tools clear, the following description is divided into sections for ease kof reference.

Male tool set The male tool set,` generally indicated at M in Figure l is carried by a cylindrical carrier member 1 which is hollow and has a disc-like transverse wall 2. The carrier member 1 is reciprocable within a sleeve 3 in which it is a good it. The sleeve 3 is secured to an appropriate fixed part of the machine but this has not been shown so as to reduce complications on the drawings. Carried by the disc 2 is an annular blanking punch 4 secured to the disc by means of bolts 5 so that movement of the carrier 1 positively moves the punch 4. Between the punch 4 and the disc 2 there is provided a locating ring 6 which has a boss 7 passing through an aperture 8 in the disc 2. At a point about midway along the length of the punch 4 there is a radial projection 9 which forms a forward stop for a stripper ring assembly that is in two parts comprising the stripper ring 1d at the front and the retaining sleeve 11 at the rear: the parts 1t) and 11 are secured together and the sleeve 11 has a rear ilange 12 that engages behind the radial projection 9. The stripper ring assembly is reciprocable along the punch 4 and a compression spring 13 is interposed between the rear face of the part 11 and a shoulder 14 formed on the punch 4 as shown. The projection 9 and the rear ange 12 together form a limit stop to limit the forward movement of the stripper ring assembly and between the said projection 9 and flange 12 there is provided a cushion ring 15 made, for example, from rubber or other compressible material.

Within the annular punch 4- there is located a formerv body 16 having a shank 17 the said body being recessed at 18 to carry a male ejector member 19 andat 2t) to locate a compression spring 21. (See detail in Figure 2.) The ejector ring 19 is held in position by means of dowels 22 whichY pass through the former body 7 and into a groove 23 in the ejector ring. The forward limit of movement ofthe ejector ring is therefore controlled by the dowels 22 in the groove 23 and the ejector may move longitudinally within the recess 13 against the pressure of the spring 20. The ejector ring 19 normally projects slightly forward of the face of the former body 16. At .the rear end of the shank 17 there is provided a backing plate 24 which has a central aperture through which passes a shank 25 of a male forming plunger whose head 26 tapers inwards towards the leading face 27. The conical portion of the head 26 vmay be ribbed or lplain as desired. The drawings kshow the head plain'. The shank 25 is secured within the boss 7 in any desired fashion.

Secured to the rear face of the transverse `disc 2 isv a boss ZSapertured at 29 to form the small end of a piston rod Eallfor movement of the tools as will be described later. The gudgeon pin 31 connecting the rodV 30 to the boss 23 has two transverse passages 32 one on each side of the boss 2S to allow the passage of two push rods 33 one above the boss and the other below it. rhFigure 1 shows only the upper push rod. The -forward ends of the push rods 33 engage the backing plate 274 and the the 'pivot`36 will cause longitudinal movement of the push rods 33 and therebyA the former body 16. Theother ends `other ends `of the links 35- are pivoted above and belowrespectively at 38 4to a sleeve 39 whose rear end 'is located in a bracket 40 secured to tue piston rod 3 0 by means of bolts 41. The bracket 40 carries at its rear face a stop ring 42 which acts as a bearing guide for the sleeve 39. The lsleeve 39 has a bore 43 and lateral longitudinal slots 44. Within the bore 43 there is reciprocable an operating rod 45 carrying near its forward end a lateral projecting pin 4 6 passing into the slots 44 whereby rearward movement of the operating rod 45 is limited by the stop ring 42. The rear end of the sleeve 39 is reduced in diameter to form a shank 47 and a shoulder 48. The rear end of the operating rod 45 is provided with a collar 49 having two stops 50 and 51. Between the shoulder 4S and the stop 51 is provided a iirst compression spring 52 and between the rear face of the ring 42 and the stop 5G there is provided asecond compression spring 53.

The operating rod 45 has a rearward extension 54 and pivoted to this rear extension at 5S is a cam-following link 56 which is pivoted at 57 to an extension 58 of a journal rod 59 terminating at its rear end in a journal 6i) located around a pin 61 on an eccentric 62 secured to a main operating shaft 63 in the machine. Also mounted on the pin 61 is a cam 64 and pivoted at 65 to the camfollowing link 56 is a cam-following roller 6 6 which is advantageously in the form of a ball-bearing race. The spring 53 applies the cam follower 65 to the surface of the cam 64 so that the latter are in engagement at all material times.

The journal rod 59 is connected to the piston rod' 3G by means of a stud 67 and nuts 68, 69, the said stud being provided at its two ends with threads of different sense, Le. lefthand` and righthand threads respectively whereby the position of the stroke of the piston rod can be adjusted as desired by rotation of stud 67 in accordance with conventional practice.

The tubular sleeve 3 terminates yat a leading edge at 7G to form a gap 71 through which metal foil 72 is passed to form capsules between the male tool set M just described and the female tool set generally indicated at F.

Female zool ser The female tool set comprises a die housing 73lraving a projecting radial ange 74 which is secured to a forward shoulder 75 on lateral extensions 76from the sleeve 3 in any convenient manner, for example by means of bolts (not shown). The `die housing 73 carries a blanking die 77 and a centralizing plate 7i?.v The blauking die 77 and the'plate 78 'are secured to the housing '73 in any conve-nient manner and the centraiizing plate registers in the die housing by means of the shoulder 79. Secured to the centralizing plate 7.8 Athere is a female former Si? having an inner member 81 at its forward n edge. The inner member 81 is secured to the former 8i) n rearends are. engagedrby pressure rollers 3d pivotally, i

and has a bore 82 to receive the male forming plunger head 26. The female former tool is thus also of annular form similarly to the male former. The leading edge of the innerimember Slis rounded at S3 and `the bore 82 tapers inwards rearwardly as shownto conform to the conical shape ofthe head V26 of the male forming plunger. f

Rearwardly of the inner member 81 thefemale former has an inwardlyfprojecting radial shoulder 8G to curry a cylindrical ejector S5' which has at its rear end a radially outward projection 86 to engage behind the shoulder '84. Thus the member 85 -is Ylimited in its forward travel i.e. towardsl the foil= by engagement of the parts 34 and 86 and can move longitudinally under pressure against the spring 87 whoserear endvabuts against the inner lfarce of the centralizing plate V'78.. Also passing through the centralizing plate 78 is a .guide krcd' which carries an .embossing pad rod 89 the forward .end of which pad iid-passing throughanape'rturef in a ftransversevmh aeemei 91 of the ejector S5. Thus the embossing pad 90 may easily be replaced by unscrewing rod 89 by turning milled knob 92.

Configuration of the tool sets Referring to Figures 3 and 4 which respectively show the male and female forming tools, the former body 16 is of annular form and the working face is milled to provide a series of wedge-shaped flutes or ribs 93 which extend radially towards the centre of the tool. The shank 17 of the male tool is provided with longitudinal slots 94 forming keyways in which slide keys 95 (see Figure l) to prevent rotation of the male tool member when forming the caps or capsules. The female forming tool, which is also of annular form, has a series of slots 96 cut into the face thereof, for example by milling, the said slots radiating towards the centre of the tool. In these slots there are located parallel-sided ribs 97 which form outer rib parts. The inner rib parts 98 which are formed on the inner member 83, are not colinear with the outer rib parts 97 but are slanted with respect there-y to although they are substantially in the same plane. The inner rib parts 98 are formed for example by milling in the working face of the inner part 83 and extend to the lip of the bore 82 and they may be given a slight twist as shown whereby the crimps or pleats formed in the cap when the tools are advanced together are turned over and attened in the reduced transition portion between the generally cylindrical but tapering portion and the radially-extending ange of the cap or capsule. 'Ihe inner rib parts 98 therefore act like a plough to turn over the pleats in this area. The outer member 80 may be secured to the inner member 83 by screws or the like passing through the threaded apertures 99 after the part `80 has been placed over the part 83 and the inner and outer rib parts 97 and 98 brought into alignment.

The inside face of the bore 82 of the female tool and the outer face or head of the male plunger at 26 may be smooth or substantially smooth as shown in the drawings which will allow the upper or crown part of the formed cap or capsule to be substantially smooth, the material of the cap or capsule being folded up on the crown or upper part 100 as shown in Figure 5 during formation. The flat top portion of the cap or the capsule at 101 will be embossed by the embossing pad 90 and to assist in the embossing action, a recess is preferably formed in the end 27 of the male plunger as shown in Figure 3, to accommodate a rubber pad 102.

Figure 5 also clearly shows how the crimps or pleats are turned or ploughed over at the radiussed transition portion 103 between the generally cylindrical portion or crown 100 of the projecting iiange or brim 104. The regular nature of the crimps or pleats in the flange can also clearly be seen from Figure 5 which figure is, in fact, in line representation taken directly from a photograph of a cap or capsule made by tools similar to those shown, but Figure 5 is not to exactly the same scale as Figures 3 and 4.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the tool sets to give caps or capsules having shapes differing in detail but nevertheless conformingto the general pattern of an upper slightly conical crown portion and a radially projecting flange or brim portion.

Operation of the tools Referring now to Figure l, the male toolset M is advanced upon rotation of the main drive shaftvv63 which can be rotated in any desiredfashion not forming part of the present invention, but would generally bev effected by means of an electric motor drive of conventional-form.

Since lsuch drive arrangements are .well-knQWnin the art 6 it-has not been thought necessary tol illustrate them here. Rotation of the said shaft 63 will cause the link 62 to rotate to move about shaft 63 thereby moving the journal rod 59 to reciprocate the piston rod 30 and thus the punch carrier 1. In due course the slightly-projecting ejector ring 18 will touch the foil 72 and apply it against the female tool set F whereupon the ejector ring will move back to compress spring 21 whereby the foil 72 will be held in position. It will be appreciated that, as wellknown in the art, the foil 72 is intermittently moved and no axial drive is imparted thereto during the whole formation of a cap or capsule. Further movement forward of the piston rod 30 will cause the punch 4 to press the foil 72 against 'the blanking die 77 thus to blank out a disc of foil during which time the former body 16 presses the foil 72 against the female former 80 and is slightly retracted causing the spring 52 to compress very slightly.

The stripper ring 10 is also moved back by contact with die 77, to compress spring 13.

The tool carrier 1 continues to move towards the female tool set (Le. to the left of Figure 1), and hence the pivot 36 von the piston rod 30 also moves towards the left. The male former body 16 cannot move appreciably to the left because it is in contact with the female former body 80. It follows from this that the push rods 33 and the pressure roller 34 are also stationary. Since the pivot 36 is moving to the left, the opposite end of the link 35,

which carries the pivot 38 and the sleeve 39, must be moving to the right. This movement compresses spring 52 against stop 51, which latter is positioned by the cam 64 and its associated following roller 66 and link 56. Further rotation of the driving shaft 63 causes further forward movement (movement to the left in Figure 1) of the piston rod -30 and thus of the male plunger 26, whereby the plunger 26 presses against the embossing pad 90 and commences to draw the foil into the bore 82 of the female former body. During this drawing operation, the male and female former bodies, 16 and Si) respectively, are pressed in firm contact with each other by the pressure exerted by the spring 52. It is possible, by giving the cam 64 the appropriate shape, to make :the pressure between the male and female `formers vary in whatever manner is desired during the drawing operation of the cap or capsule. It is desirable to apply a much greater force when the complete disc of foil is between the former bodies than when the area of foil between the formers has diminished substantially, as it does during the drawing operation. Continued rotation of the shaft 63 will eventually cause the male plunger 26 t0 move into maximum penetration within the female former body. At this point the rubber pad 102, located in the recess of the plunger 26, is pressed into contact with the embossing pad 90 which is carried by the ejector 85.

Further rotation of the shaft 63 will cause the press tools to open. At the point where the male tool changes its direction, it is necessary to remove all the spring pressure between the male and female former bodies 16 and 80. This is achieved by shaping the cam 64 so that the spring stop 51 is moved rapidly to the right, thus the tool opens with `the formed cap or capsule held in contact with the male plunger 26 by means of the ejector 85 and spring 87. As the tools open, the former body 16 moves to the right of Figure 1 within the punch 4 towards the disc 2 so that the forward face of the former body is behind the leading edge of the punch 4. When the male tool set is clear of thefemale, a rise'R on the cam 64 causes the link 56 and spring stop 51 to move towards the left,V which causes spring pressure, to be re-applied'to the sleeve 39 and hence to the push` rods which are in* contact with the, backingplate 24 ofthe male former Y body 16. This spring pressure causes the male.y former body 16 to recover its original position and, in so fdoing,

toeject the capsule from the plunger-26. If there isany tendency for the capsule to stick in Atherutes or ribs 93v i" .vf the male .farmer .1.6, the-,capsule is eiectedfromthissemer former ey the ejector ring 19. The ejected capsule willv fall downwards, to beA collected in any desired fashion. The tools are then in the same position as vshown in Figure 1 and are ready to commence a further cycle.

Thus, during the formation of a cap or` capsule, the tool contact pressure 'ca'n be initially very high and this pressure is gradually decreasedto substantially zero at the end of the formation. The characteristics of the material may make it desirable to vary the pressure between the tools in some other manner. For example, it might be preferable lto start with a low pressure between the tools', to increase this gradually to a maximum and then to rapidly decrease to substantially zero' at the end of the formation. Thus the crimping pressure between the toolsy `is changed throughout the forming cycle of thecap or capsule.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for forming a pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from a circular disc blanked from a strip of metal foil, comprising male and female tools including complementarily ribbed and grooved former bodies of similar diameter and of annular shape, means for holding said blank between said former bodies, means for eifecting relative movement between said male and female Aformer bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats in the outer part of said blank corresponding to the said ribs and grooves on said former bodies, a forming plunger, means for moving said forming plunger through the annuluso' the female former body when said former bodies are closed together for drawing the centre portion of. said blank into a central conical shape, means for preventing forward movement of said plunger beyond a point where an appreciable portion of said disc is still remaining between said annular former bodies, to form a brim extending radially outwards from said conical centre portion, means for releasing the pressure between said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation ofsaid male and female tools.

2. Apparatus for forming av pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from a circular disc blanked from a strip of metal foil, comprising male and female tools inciuding complementarily ribbed land grooved former bodies of similar diameter `and of annular shape, means for hold ing said blank between said former bodies, means for etfecting relative movement between said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats in the outer part of said blank corresponding to the said ribs and grooves on said former bodies, a forming plunger, means for moving said forming plunger through the annulus of the female former body when said former bodies are closed together for drawing the centre portion of` said blank into a central conical shape, means for preventing forward movement of said plunger beyond a point Where an appreciable portion of said disc is still remaining between said annular'former bodies, to form a briml extending radially outwards fromv said conical centre portion, means for changing the crimping pressure between said male and female tools throughout the forming cycle, means for releasing the pressurebettveen said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formedcap on said plunger, and means for'ejecting' the formed cap after complete separation ofsa'id male andfemale tools.

3; Apparatus for forming a pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from `a'circular discbianked from a strip of metal foil, comprising male and `female tools including complementarily ribbed 4and, groovedformerl bodies of u similar ,diameter j and of annular-shape, means forhold- 'ing said-blank bettveerrsaidl former bodies, means for effecting relative movement betwen'said male and female `former bodies" under crimpingl pressure to vform radial sieste tuftnefeutee naar er said bunte eerreepenaing te till 8 the said ribs and grooves on said former bodies, a forming plunger, means for moving said forming plunger through the annulus of the female former body when said former bodies are closed together for drawing the centre portion of said blank into a central conical shape, means for preventing forward movement of said plunger beyond a point where an appreciable portion of said disc is still remainingbetween said annular former bodies, to form a brim extending radially outwards from said conical centre portion, means for applying maximum crimping pressure to said blank when said former bodies fully meet, means for decreasing said crimping pressure 'when said former bodies commence to separate, means for releasing the pressure between said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation of'said male and female tools.

4. Apparatus for forming a pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from a circular disc blanked from a strip of :metal foil, comprising male and female tools including complementarily ribbed and grooved former bodies of similar diameter and of annular shape, means for holding said blank between said former bodies, means for effecting relative movement between said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats in the outer parts of said blank corresponding to the said ribs and grooves on said former bodies, a forming plunger, al 'spring-loaded ejector ring carried by said forming plunger, push rods connected to said plunger, mechanism in operative Contact with said push rods for moving said forming plunger through the annulus of thc female former body when said former bodies are closed said annular former bodies, to form a brim extending radially outwards from said conical centre portion, means for releasing' the pressure between said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation of said male and female tools.

5. Apparatus for forming a pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from a circular disc blanked from a strip of metal foil, comprising male and female tools including complementarily ribbed and grooved former bodies of similar diameter and of annular shape, means for hold ing said blank between said former bodies, means for effecting relative movement between said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats in the outer part of said blank corresponding to the said ribs and grooves on lsaid'forme'r bodies, a forming plunger, means for moving said forming plunger through the annulus of the female former body when said formerbodies are `closed together for drawing the centre portion of said blank into a central conical shape, means for preventing forward movement of said plunger beyond a point where an appreciable vportion of said .disc is still remaining between said annular former bodies.

'formed cap'on one ofsaid former bodies, nd vn ieans folfejecting the formed k,cap after complete separation of said maleand. female tools. i

6;/ Apparatus for Iforminga pleated,k metal foil cap for afbottle fromV a circular disc blanke'd from Vafsftripof.

:aan -feiifeereprisiug male-asd female son including former bodies of similar diameter and of annular shape radial ribs on the face of said female former body, each of said ribs being in two parts, an outer part running radially towards the centre of the face of said female body and an inner part slanted at an angle to said outer part, but generally in the same plane, complementarily located grooves in the face of said male former body, means for holding said blank between said former bodies, means for effecting relative movement between said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats in the outer part of said blank corresponding to the said ribs and grooves on said former bodies, a forming plunger, means for moving said forming plunger through the annulus of the female former body when said former bodies are closed together for drawing the centre portion of said blank into a central conical shape, means for releasing the pressure between said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation of said male and female tools.

7. Apparatus for forming a pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from a circular disc blanked from a strip of metal foil, comprising male and female tools including former bodies of similar diameter and of annular shape, said female former body comprising an outer part and an inner part, radial ribs on the face of said outer part, radial ribs on the face of said inner part, said radial ribs on said inner part being slanted at an angle to said ribs on said outer part but generally in the same plane, complementarily located grooves in the face of said male former body, means for holding said blank between said former bodies, means for effecting relative movement between said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats in the outer part of between said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation of said male and female tools.

8. Apparatus for forming a pleated metal foil cap for a bottle from a circular disc blanked from a strip of metal foil, comprising male and female tools including complementarily ribbed'and grooved former bodies of similar diameter and of annular shape, said female former body comprising an outer part and an inner part, radial fins located in to project from radial slots in the face of Said outer part, radial ribs on the face of said inner part, said radial ribs on said inner part being slanted at an angle to said tins on said outer part but generally in the same plane, complementarily located grooves in the face of said male former body, means for holding said blank between said former bodies, means for eifecting relative movement between said male and female former bodies under crimping pressure to form radial pleats inthe outer part of said blank corresponding to the said ribs and grooves on said former bodies, a forming plunger, means for moving said forming plunger through the annulus of the female former body when said former bodies are closed together for drawing the centre portion of said blank into a central conical shape, means for releasing the pressure between said former bodies, means for separating said former bodies, means for retaining the formed cap on one of said former bodies, and means for ejecting the formed cap after complete separation of said male and female tools.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,447,855 Goodwein et al Aug. 24, 1948 2,492,886 Punte Dec. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 663,86() Great Britain Dec, 27, 1951 717,507 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1954 

